Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Diversity Statement Meet the Team Our Mission & Vision Equity Advisors Affinity Groups Meet the Team Home About Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Diversity, Equity & Inclusion > Meet The Team Fostering a Community of Excellence The Office of Belonging, Equity and Empowerment (BEE) celebrates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Our goal is to promote the value of practices, programming and policies that reflect DEI. Meet the Team Ursula Worsham, EdD Diversity Officer Assistant Dean, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (she, her, hers) Ursula Worsham serves as the Diversity Officer and Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the UCI School of Medicine, overseeing the development and implementation of strategic action plans to advance diversity and health equity initiatives encompassing students, trainees, faculty and staff. Charged with establishing the inaugural Office of Belonging, Equity and Empowerment, Worsham engages in collaborative partnerships across the UCI School of Medicine, UCI Health, UCI campus and the community at large to build bridges of access towards greater workforce diversity and inclusive learning environments where all can be celebrated and thrive. She also serves as Co-PI for the UC PRIME Pre-Health Pathways at UC Irvine. Xavier Hernandez, PhD Diversity Education Officer (he, him, his) Xavier Hernandez, PhD, serves as the Diversity Education Officer for the Office of Belonging, Equity and Empowerment. His primary responsibilities are to work with unit leaders, advisory committees and other working groups across the School of Medicine to incorporate DEI content into academic curricula and professional development. Hernandez's work aims to facilitate collaborations across the spectrum of undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, faculty, staff and other campus partners across UCI. He has obtained multiple grants from internal and external agencies to promote DEI initiatives in the School of Medicine and has presented his work at conferences for the American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges. Nayssan Safavian, PhD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Researcher (she, her, hers) Nayssan Safavian, PhD, serves as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Research Analyst within the Office of Belonging, Equity and Empowerment at the UCI School of Medicine. Safavian leads diversity research and data analysis initiatives within the office to measure our progress toward inclusive excellence in medicine and support data-driven practices and scholarship. She also leads initiatives and special projects in collaboration with school leadership, faculty, students, residents and staff to advance outreach, recruitment, retention and talent development efforts aligned with the School of Medicine's strategic goals to advance diversity. Safavian's commitment to promoting inclusive and equitable practices that empower and support historically underserved communities is bolstered by her interdisciplinary training and expertise in studying the social and psychological factors that impact engagement and persistence. Sabrina Ramirez Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Administrative Specialist (she, her, hers, ella) Leveraging her background in ethnic studies, Sabrina Ramirez serves as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Administrative Specialist for the Office of Belonging, Equity and Empowerment. Her core role involves providing essential administrative support to the Office of BEE, a crucial element in nurturing the UCI School of Medicine community. Ramirez's mission is clear: she is committed to supporting, celebrating and promoting DEI initiatives that cultivate a culture of belonging, respect and equity for all. Her primary goal is to collaborate on shaping a more inclusive future by fostering meaningful connections and creating spaces where every voice is not just heard but genuinely valued. Her unwavering dedication ensures that positive change is not just a vision but a daily commitment.